Korean pair lead by

two shots on Day 3

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A Shenzhen, China – A determined Han Chang-won of Korea returned a one-under par 71 on day three of the Asian Amateur Championship today to take a two-shot lead into Sunday's final round at the inaugural event being played at Mission Hills Golf Club’s World Cup Course in southern China.
Han, the 21-year-old winner of the individual title at last month’s Nomura Cup (Asia Pacific Teams Championship), finished on a 54-hole aggregate of 10-under 206 and leads compatriot Eric Chun, who shot 66, with just one day remaining in the race to be the first winner in championship history.
Joint 36-hole leader Jordan Sherratt of Australia slipped back in the standings after posting a 74 to be in outright third at seven-under 209. New Zealand’s Peter Spearman-Burn is one shot further back in fourth after a one-over 73 today. Three players – China’s Han Ren, who led the event after 18 holes, Kim Meen-Whee of Korea and Filipino Mhark Fernando – share fifth at 211.
The tournament offers an invitation to the 2010 Masters Tournament as a reward for the champion, with both the winner and the runner(s)-up earning places in International Final Qualifying for The Open Championship being played next year at St Andrews.
In an indication of the competitiveness of the field, 11 different APGC member nations are represented in the top 10 places and ties going into the final round (total 17 players).
Han, who shared the overnight lead with Sherratt, posted birdies at the second and third holes in an early battle with Spearman-Burn and Sherratt. Although the Korean could post only two more birdies against three bogeys from hole five onwards, it was enough to still build a valuable buffer going into the final day.
Said Han: “I will try to play tomorrow in the way that I have been playing in the past two days. I know it is going to be very tight. I don’t know Eric in person and I have never played with him, but it is great that we get to play together tomorrow.
“I didn’t really understand how big winning this tournament would be and that the field would be so competitive before I came. I knew the winner would receive an invitation to play in the Masters though. There is no doubt that it would be the highlight of my golf career if I win this tournament,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chun, the Korean who spent much of his younger days in Malaysia and Australia, roared into contention with the equal low round of the day – a six-under 66. Three front-nine birdies were joined by an eagle at the par-five sixth and just a single bogey in an outward nine of four-under 32.
Said Chun: “I have played better and better as the week has gone on and that has shown in my scores. There are plenty of birdies available on this course if you are playing well and I am going to be aggressive out there tomorrow.”
Sherratt, whose round included four bogeys and just two birdies, was left to rue a tough day on the greens. Said the 21-year-old: “I played OK, but I just did not putt very well. Hopefully, tomorrow I can putt a bit better and shoot under par and I will be right back into it.”
Spearman-Burn raced out of the blocks in four-under 32 and had a share of the lead in the middle of the back nine, before running into trouble on the par-five 16th. A snap hook from the tee saw him forced to take an unplayable, before things got worse when his third shot found water. The resulting triple-bogey 8 meant he ended the day alone in fourth.
For more information on the Asian Amateur Championship, including the latest news from Mission Hills, live scoring and a selection of video features, please visit http://www.asianamateurchampionship.com/.